India complains to BBC over Jeremy Clarkson's 'cheap jibes'

INDIAN diplomats have complained to the BBC about the Top Gear Christmas special, which was filmed on the subcontinent, saying it contained "cheap jibes" and "tasteless humour".
 
The episode was broadcast twice over the festive period. In one segment Jeremy Clarkson is seen driving around a slum in a Jaguar customised with a toilet in the boot. The controversial presenter jokes: "This is perfect for India because everyone who comes here gets the trots."

In another example of toilet humour, the Top Gear team attaches banners to a train that read: "Eat English muffins" and "The United Kingdom promotes British IT for your company".

The train carriages are later pulled apart, ripping the signs so that they
read: "Eat English muff" and "The United Kingdom promotes shit for your company".

Although the BBC has only received 23 complaints about the episode, the Indian High Commission tells The Daily Telegraph it has received "hundreds" of letters and phone calls.

One diplomat told the paper: "The BBC has to make amends, particularly to assuage the hurt sentiment of a very large number of people.

"We understand the free press - they are welcome to explain and to challenge as long as it is fair and above the belt. Can this pass as acceptable journalism?"

The High Commission's letter to the BBC, sent on January 6, says: "The programme was replete with cheap jibes, tasteless humour and lacked cultural sensitivity that we expect from the BBC.

"I write this to convey our deep disappointment over the documentary for its content and the tone of the presentation. You are clearly in breach of the agreement that you had entered into, completely negating our constructive and proactive facilitation."

It is unclear whether the Indians are referring to a letter from Top Gear producer Chris Hale to the Indian High Commission sent in July last year that said filming would focus on "the journey and the inevitable idiosyncrasies of the cars they will drive, as well as the country and scenery we see along the way".

The BBC says it will respond to the Indian High Commission directly.

India joins a long list of nations that have been offended by Clarkson or his fellow Top Gear presenters. In 2005, Clarkson suggested that BMW should build a "quintessentially German" car that would have a sat-nav that only goes to Poland.

In 2009, Romania was upset at being labelled "Borat country" and last year it was the turn of Mexico ("lazy, feckless, flatulent, overweight, leaning against a fence asleep looking at a cactus"). ·